Vacuum punch-press feeder



6, 1930. 1..'JoNEs VACUUM PUNCH PRESS FEEDER Filed Aug. 4, 1928.

Patented May 6, 1930 PATENT OFFICE LEWIS JONES, F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO VACUUM PUNCH-PRESS FEEDER Application filed August 4, 1928. Serial No. 297,417.

This invention relates to vacuum lifters, and more particularly to such a device which is adapted for use in picking up sheet material such as glass, sheet metal, and other nonporous material.

The handling of sheet metal usually isaccomplished manually and the sheets are fed to punch and forming presses by hand, endangering the workmans hands by contact ic with the rough edges of the sheet and further endangering him by exposing his hands and arms to the action of the press while placing the sheet thereunder.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a vacuum lifter which will pick up the sheet, enable it to be placed under the press and release it without the necessity of the operator exposing his hands or arms to the action of the press and also preventing laceration of the hands or lingers by contact with the rough edges of the sheet.

Another object is to provide a vacuum lifter in the nature of a suction cup having an elongated handle connected to the cup to permit the operator to readily carry the sheet without his hands coming in Contact therewith.

A further object is to provide novel means operable from the handle for creating a vacso uum within the cup when the device is emu ployed to lift a sheet. i

A further object is to provide novel means for releasing the vacuum within the cup when it is desired to drop the sheet. v

A further object is to provide a suction cup having an upwardly extending horizontally elongated portion, provided with an opening communicating with the interior of the cup, said portion being provided with a longitudinally, internally threaded opening adapted to receive the end of a tube connected to a vacuum generator, whereby when it is desired to create a vacuum within the cup the air may be drawn out of the cup through the tube.

A further object is to utilize a suction pump in the handle of the device to create and release a vacuum within the cup, whereby the device may be easily operated by the workman without his hands coming into Contact with the sheet to be carried.

Other objects and advantages ofthe inven tion will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings l have shown several embodiments of my invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a planl view of the device showing a pair of vacuum cups,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through one of the cups,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention, and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the bulb of the device shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 10 designates a vacuum cup as a whole, which is preferably formed of molded rubber or similar resilient material and is of an inverted cup shape to provide an interior space 11. The edge portion of the cup is preferably flattened as at 12 whereby the cup is adapted to seat perfectly against the surface of a sheet to be lifted. The cup is provided with an up* wardly extending horizontally elongated portion 13, preferably formed integral therewith, and this portion is provided with an opening 14 communicating with the space 11. The extended longitudinal internally threaded opening 15 extending a substantial distance through the portion 13 and communicating with the opening 14.

As shown in Figure 2, a tube 16 formed of metal or other suitable material, is adapted to have one extremity threaded into the opening 15 and this tube is provided with an opening 17 adapted to aline with the opening 14, when the tube is threaded into position. An air-tight connection is thus formed between the tube and the cup. The opposite extremity of the tube is adapted to be threaded into the vacuum generator whereby when it is desired to create a vacuum within the cup, the air therein may be drawn from the cup through the tube 16.

The vacuum generator illustratedin Figures 1 and 2 is formed with an elongated cylinder 18 adapted to be closed at one extremity portion 13 is also provided with a o by means of a plug 19 threaded therein and provided with a central aperture 20 into which one extremity of the tube 16 is threaded as Will be understood.

A plunger or piston indicated as a Whole by the numeral 21 is adapted to be reciprocatedyinnthe cylinder 18 and as clearlyshovvn in FiguregQ, this plunger is actuated byga rod Y22 secured thereto and extending outwardly of the cylinder 18.

Any suitable type of-plunger-mayzbe. employed and in the present instance the plunger comprises a pair of oppositely disposed cups 28, preferably formed of leather or other suitable material, spaced apart' by a Washer 2.4, andadapted 'to besecured to, the `rod 22 by means of..a bolt .25:.passing ythrougnthe cups and Washenand ,being threaded. into the vguide memberdthe latterbeing threaded .onto the 4eXtremityof the .rod 22. ,The cups 23 and the guide. member 26 are adapted to lightlyengage the inner Wall of the cylinder and suitable Washers-27 and: 28 lare arranged between the cups.v 23,. the heady of the.bolt.and

the guide membergrespecti-vely.

Adjacent the oppcsiteextremity `of the cylinder an elongated sleeve, 29 providedwith an outstanding -varinular-.vflange 30is adapted to he arranged between the cylinderl Wall and the Vrod22, kand .a suitable `cap 31, is threadedonto the cylinder 'to A close ,the vend'thereef. As .shown the outerperipliery of the-flange 30 yis substantially. .even Withtlie outer .surface ,of the cylinder y and suitable packing 32 is arranged betweenthe.flange-andthecap 31 to preventleakage of lubricating fluidat-this point.

,Thecap 3l, is. provided .-With a central aperture `33 through Which the-rod 22de. adapted to 4slide `whenmoved longitudinally of the cylinder, .and fa hand grip '34,- vformed l of rubber, or othersuitable material Iis ,secured preferably, onv the end. of thel rod.

.In Figures tand 5,1 havesh-ewn a modiv .lied form. ofthe invention. Thefcupand `projection 43b;issimilarfto cup 10 ,and projection .lwand need g notI be described in. detail.

` .The tube.q-isesimilar-to the tribe' 16 and is I have also shown a balancing member 44, Which comprises preferably a rubber band surrounding the cylinder at a convenient point. The outer surface of this band and the rim of the cup are adapted to be arranged in the same horizontal pla-ne toenable the operator to piclr up relativelylongsheets of Vmetal without danger of breaking thevacuum before desired.

Vrlhe operation of the device is believed to bef apparent. "Vlhen it is desired to remove a sheetlof, lmetal from its pile to the press, the

voperator grasps the hand grip 34 with one handandplaces the other hand around the cylinder. The cup is then lirmly placed on the-.sheet-to be lifted `andthe plunger is pulled avvayfrom the cup, thus drawing the air out of the cupfand creating a-,vacuum therein, Wherebyf the sheet mayV be lifted .and

placed in any desired location.

The sleeve` 29 acts as, a guide Y member for the rod yto yguard against lpossible lateral vmovement,thereof .andalso acts .as a stop -memberto limit theoutward ymovement of the plunger,as Willv be apparent. v

Vlthen itis desiredfto drop the. sheetthe vacuum may he released by moving the plunger in the directionofthe cup, thusforcing air. into the latter. .In .Figurelfl have. illustrated a pair of. cup members equidistantly spaced .from the end of the cylinder. For

,medium .Weight sheets of metal it is desirable to use.theinvention-With-only one vacuum cup .Which Would bearranged.'r in Xalinement with. the cylinden, but. forfy heavy .sheets it has been found Vvpreferable Yto use two Y vacuum cups, Yso .spaced-1 that the. sheet.; may be-readily balanced. v

-The device*v illustrated inrFgures f1-and is for use With relatively; light sheetslofgmetal andthe. operation y is,asfolle.ws t

The bulb is squeezed to force out as much y.air as possible -andtheeup is; placed inposition on-the sheettobeI lifted. The bulb is then allowed stoV expand. and in. doing so Will draw the air out of the cup, thus creating a vacuum 4.v vliich.will enable the sheet tolee easily` lifted.

Td-break .the fvacuum Withrthis .formt of the invention it is onlynecessary tosqueezethe vlbulb vagain and forcefaininto-the cup.

Ithas -been ffound in. actual practice :that

.Workmen Will sometimes .f create a vacuum yWithin the cup; lhypressi-ngon the cup/With the handsl and ,forcing- 'the'air into the bulb.

The opening .All is provided iin the bulb ito allow. this airto escape.

It is-believed to beapparent that Ihave v provided a device which will .enable the ready removal of .sheet` metal or like material'vvith- Eoutinjuryrto the handsyoffthe operator and .that .With the VVdevice a sheet-ofl 'metal may -be .easily fed to `a press .,Without .exposingfthe operators-hands or. arms. to injury.

- llt is toybeunderstoodfthat-the.forms ofthe invention herewithgshewn andfdeseribed are i .130

to be taken as preferred embodiments of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangements of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A device for lifting and carrying sheet material comprising a pair of spaced suction cups engageable With the surface of said material, a cylinder connected to each of said cups, means arranged Within said cylinder for creating a vacuum in said cups, and means carried by said cylinder and engageable With the surface of said material at a point spaced from the engagement points of said cups with said material whereby said cups and said means provide substantially a three point engagement -for said device With said material to prevent accidental release of the vacuum.

2. A device for lifting and carrying sheet material comprising a suction cup engageable with the surface of said material, a cylinder connected to said cup, means arranged Within said cylinder for creating a vacuum in said cup, and an annular balancing member arranged on said cylinder and engageable withthe surface of said material at a point spaced from the engagement point of said cup With said material, the engagement points of said cup and said balancing member being in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the surface of said material.

5 In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

LEWIS JONES. 

